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Update: We worked around the issue with a male/female USB extension cord (black) to connect the Sanako USB connector (blue) into, this way, the whole setup can be aligned with the rear of the PC and won’t stick out and get in the way:

Problem: Rear connectors of computers get disconnected or even damaged. Input (keyboard, mouse, microphone) and output devices (headset) get disconnected connected and therefore fails to work. Damaged equipment needs to be ordered and replaced, at considerable cost of time and money ($TBA per Sanako cable). It is too time-consuming to test equipment functionality (30 headsets and mice and keyboards) before each assessments and exam.

Example of student in seat:

We have observed these and similar damages regularly:

Cause: Our language lab computer desks and rows are too narrow, for individual student sitting in front of the computer, not to mention classes moving in and out of their seats

Other requirements:

We need to have equipment plugged in the rear connectors of the computer and cable-tied to prevent students from trying to adjust or “fix” computers by re-plugging the equipment (often improperly, making them fail to work), and also because there is limited desk surface in front of the computers, given keyboard and mouse need to fit in front.

For the functionality of the Sanako digital audio language lab system, we especially need to make sure, that the headset is plugged in on the same USB port in all computers.

Solutionsthat we have

already tried

we have tied down the connectors with cable ties, but this has not worked sufficiently.

yet to try: is there a way

to permanently attach computers in a different, safer position on the existing furniture?

or to buy and install different furniture, computers seated under desks inaccessible for end user and locked?

Receded computer screens would save us having to rename the LRC learning environment from “face-to-face” to “face-hidden-behind-screen-from-face”, and are especially good for communicative language class activities that are not computer-mediated, but only –aided. Receded screens also provide pretty good privacy, and are essential for written exam integrity.

Newer design claim ergonomic problems of older designs and are not as recessed, but make it easier to cheat in exams:

Distinguishing mark: Pictolang is based on the Culturally authentic Picture Lexicon. Here is an overview of the currently available languages and imagery:

Language

Region

# Images

German

2631

Mandarin

China

2336

ESL

North America

2074

Russian

1420

French

France

1231

Spanish

Southern Cone

1022

Spanish

Mexico

1000

Spanish

Central America & Caribbean

872

Spanish

Peninsular

579

Arabic

287

Special Collections

151

Ukrainian

139

Japanese

106

French

Canada

47

Arabic

Oman

11

You can focus vocabulary your study on specific topics, which will likely integrate it better with your core textbook material (often divided into topical chapters).

Suitable for self-study, the use of CAPL makes this an especially interesting tool for preparing work/study/travel abroad. It also allows for playing a classroom flashcard game in language culture and area studies, where the teacher can provide context and background information in the images from the target culture.

An LRC classic: In an attempt to improve, students will unplug/reseat and/or break headphone connectors, and render the LRC computers useless for even basic audio listening/recording use. In our attempt to prevent this and protect student users from themselves, here is what we have to work with on the rear of Dell Optiplex 760 (mini form factor): .
Cables tied to one another seems to be not stable neough. Maybe try, on top of the old (loop-headphone-cable-through-)washer-trick, a cable-tie looped through the rear grate openings which are closer and more accessible than the already installed lock?